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Dental X-Rays and the Threat of Radiation

A common concern among dental patients these days is the threat of radiation from dental x-rays. Exacerbating that anxiety, a peer-reviewed medical journal, Cancer, published an article supposedly lending evidence to the theory that dental x-rays are associated with the meningioma brain tumor. Several popular magazines and newspapers picked up on this study and republished the findings.

More recently, several peer-reviewed medical and dental journals have published subsequent articles discussing the brain tumor scare, including Nursing Times and Cancer Weekly. Cancer Weekly targeted experts from the Academy of General Dentistry to comment on dental x-rays. According to the AGD President Howard Gamble, DMD, FAGD, this study focused primarily on older x-ray techniques. New, digital x-rays reduce the radiation exposure by 90%, using a more focused beam and taking the x-ray faster. Dr. Gamble vehemently expressed the need for dental x-rays as there is no better manner to detect dental problems. Fear of radiation should not deter patients from getting the necessary x-rays.

The journal Nursing Times also critiqued the original article, stating that there were many problems with the methodology of the study therefore the results cannot be considered valid.

The method of collecting data on patient’s dental x-ray history was self-reported, meaning that each individual person in the study had to recall the x-rays they had had in their dental history. The authors of the study did not use dental charts to collect x-ray information, which would have been a more reliable measure. The subjects diagnosed with brain tumors were more likely to report having had x-rays as they were more cognizant of instances that would have produced their tumor.

The tumor patients also only reported having had more bitewing x-rays than the control group. The bitewing x-ray would produce less radiation than the full mouth or the panoramic, therefore leading to another self-report error.

Finally, the chances of a brain tumor are very small. Even with the old methods of dental x-rays, the amount of radiation a person came in contact with only translated to a 0.07% increased risk over a lifetime. The amount of radiation from the new digital x-rays used at Smile Station Dental is miniscule compared to the old techniques. Staying out in the sun for an hour will expose you to more radiation than a set of full mouth x-rays. The diagnostic capability of dental x-rays far outweighs the diminutive risk of radiation. With the new advances in dental technology, the chances of a brain tumor from x-ray radiation should only continue to abate.

Source: "The Academy of General Dentistry AGD Sets the Record Straight on Dental X-Rays." Cancer Weekly 24 Apr. 2012: 144. Health Reference Center Academic. Web. 14 June 2012. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA288062845&v=2.1&u=tel_a_rhodes&it=r&p=HRCA&sw=w

Source: Claus EB, Calvocoressi L, Bondy ML et al. Dental x-rays and risk of meningioma. Cancer, April 10 2012. Web. 14 June 2012. http://www.lexisnexis.com.relay.rhodes.edu:2048/hottopics/lnacademic/?verb=sr&csi=8406&sr=lni%2855FG-19X1-JDSX-C4YC%29

R. Eric Emery, DDS
Smile Station Dental
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
Smilestationdental.com
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